The next Thursday March 15 we will be present at the Orihuela Mobility and Open Commerce Day.
Hand in hand Carlos Martín, Product Manager of Urban Bikefriendly, we will talk about “Preferred routes for pedestrians, bicycles and public transport” and the lever of growth that promoting the use of bicycles for urban mobility represents for local commerce.
There are numerous studies that demonstrate the existence of a win-win link between local commerce and the commitment to cities that promote sustainable mobility.
Thus, a Living Streets study that has analyzed up to 500 reports from 17 different countries has come to the conclusion that, for every 1,3 euros invested in pedestrianization and bicycle promotion projects, an average of 18 euros is obtained. of benefit.
This amazing return on investment is obtained for 3 main reasons.:
- Increase in sales of local businesses.
- Reduction in traffic and pollution.
- Improving the health of the population.
If we focus on the first point around which it will rotate The Orihuela Mobility and Open Commerce Day, many might wonder what the relationship is between the use of bicycles and the increase in sales of local businesses.
At Bikefriendly we have it clear and these are the 3 main reasons:
- Cyclists have an easier time making unplanned stops: One in every three cars that circulate in the city is looking for parking and it takes 20 minutes on average to find a place to park. With this data it is not surprising that the driver of a vehicle does not stop when discovering a small local store. However, for the cyclist, parking is something much simpler and faster that favors knowledge of local shops and restaurants, therefore increasing the probability of purchase and consumption.
- Cyclists travel further to consume: Getting around by bicycle is four times faster than walking. That is why it is much more likely that a cyclist will reach businesses in other neighborhoods. Shops to which they would not walk and, of course, to which they do not even consider going by car or public transport.
- The increase in the use of the bike as a means of getting to know the city: The rise in cycle tourism is well known, which has ceased to be a niche tourism, but has become a growing trend that has become consolidated as the preferred activity for millennials in their vacation destination. In this sense, it is clear that a tourist is much more likely to approach a business that offers facilities to park his bicycle.
In this context, Carlos Martín will raise awareness, next Thursday in Orihuela, of the numerous benefits that can be achieved by promoting the use of bicycles in the city. For all these reasons, in this round table we will emphasize that local businesses should be the first interested parties in this model of a friendlier city, which invites people to walk and consume locally.
